Whether you watch the Threshermen’s Reunion or the Light Up parades, take in a youth ball game or swim meet, visit a nursing home or give blood, chances are you’ve seen the people who make all these events possible — volunteers.

Pontiac is blessed to have community-minded people who give of their time and talent to make the city a great place to visit, as well as call home.

Working on a regional newspaper project looking into the state of the Salvation Army and volunteerism in general, Daily Leader staff talked to several organizations that would not be able to function without their volunteers.

Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce and P.R.O.U.D.

By Cynthia Grau

Staff Reporter

Volunteerism is alive and well in Pontiac and the Livingston County area and two volunteer-driven organizations can prove it.

Cheri Lambert, president and CEO of the Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce, and Lori Fairfield, executive director of P.R.O.U.D., work with a multitude of volunteers from all walks of life on a daily basis.

“We average about 250 volunteers a year. We have quite a variety of volunteers, but most of our members also some way contribute with volunteering for us,” Lambert explained. “It could be something like looking at our building, if we have a question or concern about a heating and cooling system, a vent or anything. We definitely have overwhelming support from our membership in making sure we have the things here we need within the limited budget we do have.”

“In 2012, we will have about 3,000 volunteer hours clocked in by our volunteers,” said Fairfield. “Our volunteers participate in things from our board, committees, special events, maintaining downtown appearance and volunteer at our retail location, which is P.R.O.U.D. of Illinois Marketplace.”

The Chamber volunteers can be seen helping with Leadership Livingston County, the Fourth of July events, the Thresherman’s Reunion Parade and events like Issues and Eggs, Business After Hours, the annual Women in Business Conference and Holiday Home Decorating contest. P.R.O.U.D. volunteers help with the Farmers Market, Clean Sweep, cruise nights, Heritage Days, Chocolate Fall Fantasy, Jolly Trolley Holiday Open Houses and the Christmas Light Up Parade.

Lambert and Fairfield agree that their number of volunteers that are active with the organizations definitely fills the needs that are brought to them.

“We’re very fortunate but that’s the Pontiac community. The Pontiac community is very supportive and very passionate about making things better than they previously were and they very much want to do that. We happen to be an organization that needs that and are the recipient of it and can’t thank people enough,” Lambert said. “We don’t necessarily have a problem with finding people. If it’s a worthy cause, people are there for it.”

Page 2 of 5 - Fairfield agreed, but said that there is always room for more.

Lambert has learned through experience and different seminars that reaching out to people for volunteering can be difficult at times, but uses a formula to make things run smoothly.

“We try to make sure all of our volunteers know that this is what we need to happen and give them the times, the days and so on, and we really limit it to that. We try to make sure they know we appreciate their time and give them an objective and let them do it. So, consequently, we’ve had people that continue to be reoccurring volunteers, which is awesome,” Lambert explained.

A good example of the outpouring of support that the Chamber has experienced throughout the years is the Threshermen’s Reunion Parade.

“ We’ve run that parade with less than five volunteers to now we’re nearly at 45 to 50 people,” she explained. “We have a huge resource with our high school, as well as Pontiac Junior Football League with the parade. They carry signs for us. In addition to the 45 to 50 people we have show up for the parade, we have an additional 50 kids, so that’s about 100 people giving up their day for us. I can remember that I’ve had to call them late, thinking we may not have enough volunteers, and I called the FFA and they showed up with 40 children with less than 48 hours’ notice on Labor Day. They continue to come every year.”

She also said the parade is a prime example of how volunteerism touches so many people in so many ways.

“That entire parade is based on volunteers because they will step forward with their car at their own expense in order to recognize an honoree or a VIP in the community. How many different entries in the parade are in need of some kind of a tractor or wagon or a different kind of vehicle or a space to put the float together?” Lambert said. “Think of how many people are volunteering for all of that and there’s probably not on person or business that isn’t affected by one kind of volunteerism in someway for the parade. Those are important, exciting and fun days,” Lambert said.

P.R.O.U.D. also accepts many different kinds of volunteers, ranging from those who will call members to remind them of meeting times, to manning the retail shop, or any community-minded people who like to accomplish tasks. Fairfield said the group is always looking for volunteers, no matter how large or small the contribution.

“We have students from the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Pontiac Township High School sociology class, FFA, St. Mary’s School and may other great groups. They have helped with our special events, promotional events, Clean Sweep, the Santa House and anywhere else that we might need them. It gives them pride in knowing they helped their community,” Fairfield said.

Page 3 of 5 - Lambert said that some of the volunteers come from places that many might not expect.

“We got to talking and found out that there are people in the community that really like to volunteer and that is people in our nursing homes,” she explained. “They wanted to feel part of the community. They’ve done lots of things and it’s their way to continue to give to the community because there’s a sense of pride in that and what a great thing that people continue to recognize the pride in the community.”

Lambert and Fairfield also said that volunteers work by talking to others about their respective organizations.

“Volunteers are the heart of the organizations. We personally would not exist without them. We couldn’t revitalize downtown with just an executive director. It takes a lot of volunteers to make this organization run. Word of mouth is probably the best way to bring in new volunteers. Getting people to experience what you’ve experienced as a volunteer and meeting fascinating people from all over the world in our charming historic downtown is a true experience for our volunteers,” Fairfield said.

United Way of Pontiac

By Lois Westermeyer

Managing Editor

While the United Way of Pontiac has a strong core of volunteers, more are always welcome — especially during the annual fundraising campaign.

Marsha Cremeens, director of United Way of Pontiac, said the core group of volunteers numbers around 30, but she said she is working to bring that number up significantly.

“During the campaign drive, we separate the potential donors into 12 divisions, each with its own chairman. We could use more people to be active in contacting past or potential donors. It seems time after time, when people are asked why they didn’t donate, most simply answer ‘I wasn’t asked.’ We want to make sure everyone gets asked,” she said.

Even school children get into the act, collecting money during a designated week for the UW’s Penny Campaign.

“The children love that week. They get so excited,” Cremeens said.

“Most of the area’s biggest donors, RR Donnelley, Caterpillar and OSF Healthcare have their own in-house campaign volunteers, which help United Way immensely, Cremeens stated.

“It’s the smaller businesses and individuals we need to do a better job of outreach with,” she added.

“We do offer training for volunteers as well, we don’t just stick them in unprepared. Many may also not realize that volunteering does not need to be a long-time commitment, the director noted.

Page 4 of 5 - “Our board of directors is all volunteer and those terms are one year, although many serve numerous terms. But people who can only give a month or two are also needed. We can work with anyone’s schedule,” she added.

It’s not only asking for funds which are used for a multitude of programs provided by 17 area service agencies, volunteers are needed for other tasks as well.

“We could use more help with simple keyboard data entry, updating donor lists and agency information. We could use younger volunteers who are really good with using social networks, something we need to expand into,” she said.

“We could also use more people that have particular skills, like marketing and developing promotional information, these are all areas where we could really use the help.”

Volunteers receive satisfaction in knowing they’ve helped continue necessary services to those less fortunate, but Cremeens added that it’s also a good way to connect with others in the community.

“It seems personal connections are getting lost, and volunteer service is a good way to re-connect, while helping thousands of people.”

“The volunteers we have now are phenomenal, but we could always use more.”

Community food pantries

By Luke Smucker

Staff Reporter

Food pantries around Pontiac are reporting needs for their services are growing and being met through increased donations and volunteers.

First Baptist Church Food Pantry volunteer Frances Dean said community needs at their pantry are growing tremendously. Going into November, Dean reported they had already served around 5,000 people and plan to finish the year with around 1,000 more. She said the pantry is meeting the needs of those they serve by stationing volunteers in the freezer section and cans departments and at tables.

“We have a good group of people working here and helping out,” said Dean.

The needs of the food pantry are being met, but Dean said she feels they often receive less donations than other pantries because some companies do not allow donations to church-affiliated food pantries.

“We are not trying to compete,” said Dean. “But we want people to know we need items as well.”

Evelyn Ribordy, food pantry director at St. Vincent de Paul, said needs are growing at their food pantry as well. In the past, it was generally elderly residents who would come for food, but lately, Ribordy said they are seeing people who have jobs with cut hours and need help in order to supplement what income they recieve.

“We see families, people with medical conditions as well as people who have lost their jobs,” said Ribordy.

Page 5 of 5 - During the week on days when they receive food, the food pantry has 10 volunteers. On days when they are serving people, Ribordy said the amount of volunteers jumps to 20. The volunteers serve in the food pantry’s clothing area, sort food, toys and clothing to be put on the shelves, a volunteer issues tickets for people wishing to be served, two volunteers work on bookkeeping, two or three volunteers work as baggers and volunteers make up the food request orders they receive.

The food pantry regularly receives donations from Wal-Mart through the countrywide Feeding America program, in which the department store donates dented cans to food pantries. They also regularly receive donations from Midwest Food bank and the Peoria Food Bank.

Ribordy said last year 710 families received food on more than 5,700 visits.

Joan Bevill, vice president for the Livingston County Community Pantry, estimates they will see somewhere between 10,000 and 12,000 people this year. The food pantry serves the county with what she says is a very dedicated group of volunteers, although they could always use more.

“The ladies and gentlemen who volunteer here are very dedicated to helping others. We probably have about 30 volunteers and we split things into two shifts, one from 1 to 3 p.m. and another from 3 to 5 p.m.,” said Bevill. “It takes quite a few people to cover all of the needs of the food pantry, so we split things 15 and 15.”

“We are constantly in need of new people to step up and help out,” Bevill added. “Our regular donors are still there and have been providing and we need and appreciate them so much,” said Bevill. “But we are also hoping things turn around.”